#alien anatomy
Although centuries of abuse and mismanagement have reduced Earth’s once bountiful oceans to a lifeless chemical broth, a great abundance of carbon-based organisms not dissimilar to ancient earth life continue to thrive in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from human interference.
The first robotic probes to Tantum XII detected vast swarms of complex life cavorting through the perpetual darkness of the gas giant’s upper atmosphere. To the shock of human observers back on Earth, these aerodynamic creatures were observed tumbling unpredictably through the nutrient rich clouds, raising and reducing their altitude at apparent whim. Subsequent missions have discovered over 200 distinct varieties of life amidst the swirling hydrogen clouds of Tantum XII.
Scientifically designated as Balaena (though often more casually described as “Arrowheads”) these vast organisms “swim” gracefully through the upper layers of their gas giant’s atmosphere, feeding on particulate matter and absorbing solar radiation. Balaena lack a central nervous system and possess only the relative intelligence of an Earth sponge. Because there is no solid material in their gaseous habitat to navigate around, Balaena never developed the complex intelligence necessary to interact with their environment, and even Balaena apex predators are relatively stupid by the standards of most Earth life.
Most species are able to alter their buoyancy with a rudimentary gas bladder in response to changing atmospheric temperature, and rise to the higher levels of their atmosphere during their planet’s several week long day before retreating to the deeper levels for the long night. Observation suggests that these creatures can live for hundreds of Earth years, but eventually age and sink into the deeper layers of their planet where they are crushed by increasing atmospheric pressures.
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A togruta’s montrals are hollow, containing only the sensory structures that allow them to hear and echolocate!
It is believed that sounds within a human range are mostly heard by sensors low within the montrals, near where most other humanoid species have ears. However, some studies suggest that the instinct to cover this area as a response to loud noises is one picked up from such species and has no affect other than as a placebo (which can nonetheless help).
